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Update: Palestinian unity govt quits with reshuffle in sight

Xinhua, June 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accepted on Wednesday the resignation of the Palestinian unity government, according to local media reports.

The resignation of the Palestinian unity government was made following a meeting held in Ramallah on Wednesday afternoon between Abbas and Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.

A well-informed Palestinian official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that Hamdallah presented his government's resignation to President Abbas during their meeting.

Amin Maqbool, Secretary General of Fatah Party's revolutionary council, told reporters following the meeting that it was agreed to convene Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee on Monday to discuss the formation of a new unity government.

"The PLO executive committee will convene on Monday next week to decide the shape of the new government," said Maqbool, who expected that Hamas will be asked to join the government by selecting candidates.

He went on saying that President Abbas will hold consultations with various political powers and factions, members in the PLO, in addition to Hamas to decide on the shape of the new government.

"President Abbas through out consultations will decide on what kind of government it will be; just a new government or a consensus unity government that includes all Palestinian political powers including Hamas," said Maqbool.

He explained that President Abbas believes that the government which resigned is unable to carry out its mission "due to some problems and lacking harmony among its cabinet ministers and the resignation of some of them."

Meanwhile, Nabil Abu Rdineh said in an official statement that Hamdallah and Abbas agreed to discuss the formation of a new government in an upcoming PLO meeting that will be held in Ramallah on Monday.

He denied that Hamdallah has resigned as a prime minister of the unity government and stressed that Hamdallah is still the premier of the Palestinian unity government.

"Hamdallah will attend the meeting of the PLO executive committee scheduled for Monday and he is still carrying on working as a prime minister," said Abu Rdineh.

Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday rejected any unilateral formation of a new Palestinian government without coordination or consultation with it and other Palestinian factions.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that "forming a new government or reshuffling it should be made in coordination and in accordance with the Palestinian factions."

On Tuesday, Abbas announced that the unity government, which was formed last June, is to resign within 24 hours, according to a well-informed official.

The official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that Abbas said in a meeting of his Fatah Party's Revolutionary Council held in Ramallah that he will designated Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to form a new government. Endit